Your Passport to the Country of Writing programs take place in Helzberg Auditorium at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St., on Wednesdays – October 15, October 22, November 5, and November 12.

Hagedorn is an award-winning author of four narrative nonfiction books ­– Wild Ride, Ransom, Beyond the River, and Savage Peace ­– and is currently working on a book for Simon & Schuster with the working title Murder, Mayhem and Business As Usual. A former Wall Street Journal staff writer, she is a graduate of Columbia University and has taught writing at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, at Xavier University, and at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Hagedorn will also be available for one-on-one consultations at dates to be announced in October and November. Each lecture will cover a different aspect of authoring a book.

October 15 – Welcome to the Country of Writing – offers an introduction to the course, tips for choosing a topic, and guidance on how to find your hidden writing talent.

October 22 – The Writer's Toolbox – focuses on the more technical aspects of writing, including a comprehensive list of the literary tools a writer should have at his or her disposal.

November 5 – Your Map to the Country of Writing – instructs attendees on how to best structure their story, an element of story telling that is often neglected with disastrous consequences.

November 12 – Your Final Destination – features tips on pitching your book and finding a publisher, including five criteria for a good book idea and a proven system for writing a book proposal.

A 6 p.m. reception precedes each event. Admission is free. Call 816.701.3407 to indicate your interest in attending. Free parking is available in the Library District Parking Garage at 10th and Baltimore.